Liquid purification system



June 16,1931. v c. c. REYNOLDS 1,810,789

LIQUID PURIFICATION SYSTEM Filed Feb. 15, 1930 2 Sheets-Shee 1 gwue'ntovPatented June 16,v 1931 UNITED" stares;v

isiavsa CARL o. nnmvonns, or snnrn FE, nnw MEXICO LIQUID PURIFICATIONSYSTEM Application filed February 13, 1930. Serial No. 428,188.

The present invention relates to purifying systems and more particularlyto a purify ng system adapted for use in the clarification andpurification of gasoline used in drycleanmg processes.

An object of this invention is to provide a purification system by whichthe liquid used in the cleaningprocess is in continuous motionthroughout the system during the process of cleaning.

Another object of this invention is to provide in a cleaning system,means by which the fluid may be kept in .constant motion throughout thesystem and at the same time, the liquid returning to the washer is notonly clarified but reheated, the heating means being interposed in thereturn line so that a constant stream of warm fluid is forced into thewasher. i

A further object of this invention is to provide in a system of thischaracter, means by which large particles of material removed in thecleaning of clothes or the like may be initially removed from the fluidbefore the fluid passes into the process of purification.

A still further object of this invention is to provide in combinationwith a purification system, means by which the cleaned fluid may beproperly stored in a reservolr or container so positioned as to meet anyof the local requirements as to the inflammable liquids.

A further object of this invention is to pro vide visible means by whichthe quality of the storage of fluid may be determined as it is passingthrough the system.

Another object of this invention is to provide in a system of thischaracter, means'by which the entire system may be thoroughly andadequately drained, the draining means being connected to a sewer or thelike and also means by which the inflammable or cleaning fluid may bewithdrawn from the component parts of the system and placed in areservoir or storage tank where it will be ready for use when desired.

- the following detailed description of ,the

present preferred embodiment, thesame being illustrated in theaccompanying drawings wherein V p Figure 1 is a fragmentary detailedside elevation partly in section of a device constructed according tothe preferred embodiment of this invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sideelevation partly in section ofthe device;and

Figure 3 is .a longitudinal section taken through the prefilteringmember.

, Referring to thedrawings wherein like numerals of reference designatecorrespond-. ing parts throughout the several views the numeral 10designates a washer of conven- 6 tional type Which is used in, thecleaning of cloth or the like and preferably a Washer which is adaptedfor use in holding gasoline for cleaning clothes by what is commonlycalled the dry cleaning process. The Q washer 10 is provided with aninlet 11 and an outlet 12 by which the cleaning fluid may be placed intothe washer and. drained there from. The outlet 12 is connected bymeansof a pipe 13 to a storage tank 14: which is positioned remote fromthe washer and preferably positioned underground so as to comply withthe usual regulations as to storage of inflammable liquidsin anunderground storage or reservoir. 7 so A pump or pressure means 15 isinterposed in the pipe line 13 between the washer and the storage tank14 and a valve member 16 is positioned in the-line 13 lIliSGIlYlQCHiate-the washer 10 and the pump 15. Asec- 0nd valve member 17 is mountedin the pipe line 13 between the pump and the storage tank it so thatwhen the pump 15 isop crating, the fluid may be either withdrawn fromthe storage tank or from the washer.

A pipe line 18.is connected to the pump 15 at one end and at theopposite end is connected to the storage tank 14 being adapted for usein returning the fluid to the tank; 14 when it is withdrawn from thecleaning system.

A clarifying or initial cleaning member 19 is connected by means of pipe20 to the pipe line 18 and a valve member 21 is mount; m ed in the pipeline 18 in a position Where he storage tank or reservoir 14 may be cut013? from the pipe line 18, and. the fluid movis positioned in thebottom of thecleaning member 19. If desired, the bottom portion of thecleaning member '19 may be con structedin the shape of a cone orthelike'and the quantity of cleaning fluid withiii themember 19 may bevaried according to the needs o'f the' system. .The cleaning member 19is provided with an outlet 23 at the top thereof and a pipe line 24leads from the outlet" 23th a rinsingor second cleaning tank or'mernberI 25, the ipe line'2a'entering'the secondcleaning tank in the bottomthereof as at 26. The

first cleaning-tank or initial clarifying merii ber 19is'preferablymotmte'd in an'elev'at'ed position on suitable supportmembers 27 and is preferably considerably larger in diamet'er than therinsing tank but of substaritially less height, being from one-third toone-half as high as tank 25. The top or outlet 23 of the clarifyingmember 19'is preferahly positioned somewhat higher than the top of therinsing tank 25 so that when the clarifying tank 19 is filled, the fluidtherein will flow by gravity into the rinsing tank 25' where it isdesired to use pressure to force the liquid through the syst:em;'thevarious tanks embodied in this system may be positioned with theirbottom portions substantially in alignn'ient with each other.

A valve member 28 may be interposed in' the pipe line 24 adjacent theintake portion of the rinsing tank 25 so'that, when desired, the pipeline 2% may be closed.

The rinsing tank 25 is adapted to contain water or any other desiredcleaning com pound and is preferably of .a configuration somewhatsimilar to the first clarifying member 19 having the bottom thereof incone shape construction with the apex extending downwardly and thequantity of cleaning compound 29 in the rinsing tank 25 may be" variedtosuit the needs of the system. Preferably the rinsing tank 25 is ofgreater height than the tank 19 and of less diameter.

The cleaning member 29 in the rinsing tank 7 is adapted to furtherclean. the gasoline coming' from the clarifying member 19 and isparticularly adapted to remove any of the cleaning compound or dirtparticles which may pass outwardly from the clarifying member 19. Thecompounds 22 and 29 are preferably of a heavier composition than enterthe tank and facilitate removal of the fluids therein by gravity andconversely, when it is desired to fill the tanks the valves maybe'opened so as to remove the air from the system.

Therin'sing tank 25 is provided with an outlet 31 in the top portionthereof and a pipe line 32 'le'adsfrom the outlet 31 to affilt'eringmember-33, the pipe li1ie"32 he'i1ig connected to the filteriiigmember33 at the intake pee t'ion 3 1th'ereof. The filtering member- 33"may beof any desired construction which is adapted to filter the gasolineafter it has passed outwardly from the rinsing tank and is preferablyconstructed with mannerisms sage 35'throngh W'hichthe gasoline must passbefore entering the outlet 36. The outlet 36 is connected by a pipe line37' 'to'the inlet pipe 11 'of the washer member 10 thereby"com--pletin'g the circuit from'theoutlet 12 of the f washer'through theclarifying system and back intothe inlet 11 ofthewa'sher'. The

rinsing tank 25flmay be provided with an air' vent valve member3Q'whichmay Be similar to the construction of tlie'air vent' valve '30on the clarifying tank andis adaptedt'obeused for "the same purpose,namely, to permit proper draining of tlietank 25 and converselyto'f'acilitate filling of the tank soas to re move all of theairtherefrom.

The filtering member ispreferably of somewhat smaller constriiction thanthe rinsing tank 25 andthet'op oro'utlet portion seat thefilteringmemb'er33is preferably positioned in a lower plane than the'out-let 3 1 ofthe rinsing tank'soth'at the fl'uid'in the line 32 willflow'by'gravity intothe inlet 34 andoutof the filtering meinber du'tlet'36 into theintake pipe line 11-. v I

V The dirty fluid which is "withdrawn from tlie'iwasher- 10 thronghtheoutlet 1521freque'n't.- l'y contains a nun'iberof solid articlessuclias' buttons,pieces of cloth or thelike and'iiio'r der to preventclogging or the free passage of the fluid in the clarifying] system, atrap 38 is inter posed'in the pipe line'l?) marine diate the outlet 12and the pump meinb'er'lhg The trap member 38",i'na'y be of anyrdesir'edconstruction but is preferably pro'i' id cd'with a tortuous passagewayin which may be mounted screen members 39" and, if desired, the initialor pre-cleaning of thefiuid maybe" facilitated by placing cottonseedhull's 4:001" any other desired cleaning members orcoinpound withinthe trap 38. y s

The fliiid whiclris used in' the washing of cleaning process ispreferably heated and in order to obtain the proper temperature of thefluid, a heating member 41 is interposed in the return line 32-lntermediate the rinsi tank and the filtering member 33. The li atingmember 41 is preferably constructed in the form of a conventional jacketor pipe en circling member which is provided with an intake 42-and anoutlet 43 connected to a suit able source of steam or other heatingmember. While I have disclosed a heating member receiving heat from asteam line, I do not Wish to be understood as being limited to the useof steam for heating the fluid passing through the return line 32 as anyother form of a heating member may be used such asexceedingly largenumber of washing machines are used, the capacity of the cleaning systemmay be increased by adding another clarifying tank 44 which is connectedby an intake line 45 to the pipe line 18 and is of similar constructionto the clarifying tank 19. The intake line 45, as in the clarifying tank19, terminates adjacent the bottom of the tank 44, andthe tank 44 isprovided with a cleaning compound 46 which may be similar to the cleanincom ound 22 or if desired a separate and entirely distinct cleaningcompound may be used.

A valve member 47 is positioned in the 'f pipe line 18 intermediate thepipe line 45 and the pipe line 20 so that the fluid moving forwardly inthe pipe line 18 be forced downwardly into the clarifying tank 44. Thetank 44 is provided at the top portion thereof with an outlet 48, andthe pipe line 20 is ex.-

' tended downwardly from the pipe line 18 and connects with the outlet48 of the initial clarifying tank 44; g g V A valve member 49 may beinterposed in the pipe line 20 intermediate the pipe line 18' 5 cuttingoff the first cleaning tank 44 and permitting the fluid to pass upwardlyinto the clarifying tank 19. I

In-the operation of this cleaning or purification system, the pumpingmember 15 may be operated'in any conventional manner as by a motor orthelike, and Where it is desired tofill the tanks 19 and 44 with thedesired cleaning fluid, the desired compounds in the proportionsrequired may be placed into a at the top or provided with a suitableinlet portion 52 and provided with an outlet 53 at the bottom thereof.The mixing tank 51 may be relatively small in View of the fact that arelatively small quantity of cleaning fluid is normally placed intothe-clarifying tanks 19 and 44 but will, of course, be of sufficientcapacity to contain fluid for at least one filling of the tanks 19 and44 but may be of larger capacityso that a reserve quantity of cleaningfluid may be maintained on hand. 7

The mixing tank 51 is connected by a'pipe line 54 to the pipe line 13,and a valve member 55 is interposed in the pipe line 54 intermediate themixing tank and the pipe line 7 13 so that the pipe line 54 may beopened or closed as desired.

When it is desired to place the cleaning fluid into the clarifying tanks'19 and 44 the valve member 16 may be closed and the valve 1'? opened,thereby permitting the suction pump line 13. I

A valve 56 is mounted in the line 13 intermediate the mixing tank 51 andthe storage tank 14 and is adapted to close the line 13 leading to thestorage tank so that When thevalve 55 is opened, the pump 15Will'withdraw the cleaning fluid from the mixing tank 51 and force itthrough the pipe line 18.

The valve 47 in the pipe line 18 may be closed and the valve opened,thereby permitting the fluid to pass downwardlyint o the tank 44 andwhen the desired quantity of cleaning fluid has entered the tank 44 thevalve 49 may be closed and the valve 50-may be closed and the valve 47opened, it, of course, being understood that during this process thevalve 21 is maintained closed.

When the valve 47 is opened, the fluid will pass upwardly through thepipe line 20 and downwardly into the fluid cleaning member 15 towithdrawthe fluid from the 19. In order to determine the quantity of cleaninfluid being placed into the cleaning tan is 44 and 19, a vision glass 57may be mounted in a pair 'of parallel spaced. pipe members 58 which areconnected to the tank members 19 and '44 adjacent the bottom thereof,the vision glass or member 57'being of conventional tubularconstruction.

In'order to place the desired quantityof rinsing compound 29 in therinsing tank 25, the valve member may be closed thereby shutting off themixing tank 51, and the valve '17 may be closed. A pipe line 59 may beconnected to the pipe line 13 intermediate the valve members 16and 17and connected to a source of water supply or the like. -A valve 60 ispreferably positioned in thewater pipe 59 and when it is desired to fillthe rinsing tank 25 with the desired: quantity of water, the valve 60may be opened permitting the water to pass through the pump 15 and intothe pipe line 18.

A valve 61 is mounted in the pipe line 18'. adjacent the'rinsingtank andintermediate the valve 47-: and the pump 15. A- pipe line 62 isconnected at one end to'the pipe line 18 in termediate the valve 61andth'e-pump and at: the opposite endis connected to the outlet pipeline 32-; ,A valve 63'ispositioned in the pipe line 32inter'mediate thepipe 62 and the heater 411 The valve 61 may be closed thereby forcingthe water upwardly through the pipe line 62 and into the outlet 31 ofthe rinsing tank 25, the vent valve being of course closed and the valve63 is closed so as to prevent escape of the water through'thevalve;

If desired, a vision glass 64.--may be con nected'by pipe linestotherinsing tank 25 adjacent the bottom thereof so that the quan= tity ofwater placed in the tank may be readily visible.

When the been'placedin the rinsing tank25,the valve 60 may be closed andthe valve 61 opened, likewise the valves 17 and 56 may be'opened,permitting the pump 15 to withdraw the gasoline from the storage tank14. The gasoline from the storage tank will passthrough the pump andintothe pipe line 18,

and in the smaller system the gasoline will enterthe pipe line 20 andpass'downwardly into the first clarifying member 1-9, it of course beingunderstood that the valve 21 is maintained closed during this process.

The gasoline passing downwardly into the clarifying tank 19 will bubbleupwardly;

; through the cleaning fluid 22 and when'the tank 19 has been filled thegasoline will pass outwardly through the outlet 23 and the pipe 24' intothe tank 25, the valve 23 being of course opened. The gasoline Willbubble up or pass upwardly through: the rinsing compound 29, and whenthe tank 25'has been filled the fluid will pass'outwardly through theoutlet-31' andi'ntothe return line 32.

'A valve 66 i'smounted in the pipe line 62 intermediate the'lines 32'and Iss0 that the through the pipe 32'pas' the heating member 41 andinto the filtering member 33. The:

filtering-member 33 will then be filledand-the gasoline will passoutwardly through the out:

let- 36"and the pipe 37 into the return or intake line 11-. If desired,a visibleglass member 67- may be interposed in the return line 37 sothat the quality of the gasoline may be;

readilyvisible. When the entire system has been filled with gasoline,the valve 17- may be closedv thereby stopping the pumping of' gasolinefrom the storage tank 14:, and the valve 16 opened thereby forming acontinuous and endless'passageway from the'washer through the-pump andinto the clarifying or cleaning members.

desired-quantity of water 2-9 'has' After the system has been in usefora period of time, it will be desirable thatit be cleaned out, and inorder to accomplish.

cleaning fluid 22 so thatthe gasoline maybe withdrawn therefrom. Throughthe use of and 25 may be drained out therefrom withoutremoving thecleaning compound22 and" .29, the drained fluid flowing by. gravity intothe pipe 18 and the reservoir let so that where local conditions requirethe draining of inflammable fluid from tanks of this kind;-the

fluid may be readily drained and stored in; the reservoir which ispreferably positioned.

under ground. g I

A valve 69 may be interposed in'the connection 68 intermediatethe tank.19 and: the line 20 so. as to control the draining of the fluid. Therinsing tank 25 may'be provided with a draining connection. 70 which isconnected at one end to the rinsing tank spaced upwardly from the bottomthereof and at the other end to the pipe 62 intermediate'the valve 66and the pipe 18. A valve 71 is interposedintermediate the opposite endsthere" of so that when desired, the gasoline may be drained, it ofcourse being; understood thatthe connection 70 is mounted in the tank ata;

point approximately level with the water'or cleaning'member 29.

The clarifying member 19 andjhe rinsing tank may also be provided with asecond *draimng connect1on'72 which is connected to a suitable sourceof' draining such: as a sewer or the like A valve 73may: be interposedin the connection 72 so as to control the dra ning of the tank. Thefiltering member 33 may also be provided with a draining connection 74which is connected at one end. to. the bottom of the filtering tank 33and, at the. opposite end-to the pipe line 13, it of course beingunderstood that thefiltering; member 33 will contain only gasoline andthis gasoline maybe returned'to'the storage tank 14. e v

Avalve 75 is interposed in the connection 74 intermediate the filteringtank 33 and the pipeline .13 so as to permit the gasoline to:

be'drained when desired. A valve member, 76 may be positioned inthepipeline'137 intermediate the intake 11 and the outlet 36 of thefiltering member 33=so as to: stop the flow of-gasoline to the'washerwhen desired. V V i i In the modification of this device, where aclarifying tank 44 is interposed inthesystem, a connection'77 isconnected-at one; end to the pipeline 13 and at the opposite end to the.

intake pipe 45 intermediate the-valveO and thetop ofthe-tank;A-valve-member 7 8 may the draining connections 68 and 70 the liquid inthe tanks 19 be positioned in the connection 77 so as to control thepassage of fluid through the connection. A valve member 7 9 may also bein terposed in the pipe 13 intermediate the tank 14 and the connection77 so that when it is desired to withdraw the fluid from the clarifyingtank44, the valve 79 may be closed thereby shutting off the suction fromthe storage tank and permitting the pump 15 to withdraw the fluid fromthe tank 44.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes and modificationsmay be made in the details of construction and design of the abovespecifically described embodiment of this invention and that variouschanges and modifications in the component parts of the system may bemade, and that the'component parts thereof may be made in various sizesand configurations depending only upon the capacity of the cleaningplant wherein the system is adapted to be installed, such changes andmodifications being limited only by the scope of the following claimsWhat isclaimed is 1. A purifying system of the character clescribedcomprising in combination with washing means, a reservoir, a relativelylarge cleaning tank, a rinsing tank substantially smaller but of greaterheight than said cleaning tank and positioned in a plane below saidcleaning tank, a filter member substantially smaller than said rinsingtank and mounted in a plane below said rinsing tank, connecting meansadapted to connect said cleaning tank with said rinsing tank, connectingmeans adapted to connect said reservoir, cleaning tank, rinsing tank andfiltering member with said washer whereby to provide a passagepermitting the liquid to gravitate toward said washer, draining meanssecured to each of said tanks whereby to permit the draining thereof tothe reservoir, heating means engaging said connecting means and adaptedto raise the temperature of the liquid within said connecting means,normally closed vents for each of said tanks and a second connectingmeans connecting said washer and said cleaning tank whereby to provide apassageway for oppositely directed liquid, and a pump interposed in saidlatter connecting means, said pump being adapted to withdraw the liquidfrom said 'washer and coactively force the liquid into said cleaningtank.

2. A liquid purifying system of the character described comprising incombination with washing means, a plurality of tank mem bers mounted inspaced relation to each other,

connecting means for said tank members and cured to each of-said tankmembers and said connecting means for returning the liquid to saidstorage means, liquid purifying means mounted in said tanks, filteringmeans interposed between said tanks and said washing means, heatingmeans whereby to heat the liquid gravitating from said tanks, cleaningfluid mixing meansv connected to said tanks, normally closed vents foreach of said tank members and pump means connected to said tanks andsaid washing means whereby to provide a continuous flow of liquid tosaid tanks.

3. A liquid purifying system of the character described comprising incombination with washing means having an inletand an outlet, a pluralityof liquid cleaning members arranged in stepped relation to each other,pipe means connecting said cleaning members together and with said inletof said washing means, transparent means interposed in said connectingmeans, heating means en and normally closed vents for each of saidcleaning members.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

CARL C. REYNOLDS.

said washing means, said tank members being mounted in stepped relationto each other whereby to permit the liquid to gravitate from one tank toanother and to said washing means, storage means, means for connectingsaid storage means to said tanks, drains se-

